# Rocky Canyon Hot Springs, Idaho

Rocky Canyon Hot Springs in Idaho. 120°F (49°C). Roadside · Public Land. Valley County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/rocky-canyon-hot-springs
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at Rocky Canyon Hot Springs?

Yes. Rocky Canyon Hot Springs has natural, undeveloped pools that run at 105°F. Soaking is free. It's open late summer-early fall. You can drive right up to it.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 120°F (49°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 8.8 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 3,400 ft |
| Access | Roadside · Public Land, 205 ft from the nearest road (Middle Fork Road) |
| Land | Boise National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Valley County |
| Nearest town | Cascade |
| Coordinates | 44.25300, -115.89100 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | RATTLESNAKE, 1.1 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Cost | Free |
| Season | late summer-early fall |
| Reservations | Not needed |
| Pool temperature | 105°F |
| Clothing | Clothing optional |
| Getting there | 200 ft from Middle Fork Road but pools are across the Middle Fork Payette; ford knee to thigh deep in late summer |
| In winter | Middle Fork Road closed to vehicles in winter |
| Operator | US Forest Service, Boise National Forest |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://www.hotspringsguides.com/hot-springs/rocky-canyon-hot-springs-idaho

## About Rocky Canyon Hot Springs

Rocky Canyon Hot Springs is a roadside Forest Service spring in Valley County, right off Middle Fork Road, around nineteen miles from Cascade. At the outlet it is hot, too hot for comfortable soaking. Access is open. The USGS has a gauged flow for it, modest. Rattlesnake campground is about a mile away.

Around thirty-four hundred feet in Boise National Forest, with a wet climate and close to nine feet of snow in a typical winter. Middle Fork Road is the access and the spring sits almost on it. The land is ordinary National Forest, no special designation. Nothing in the record describes the ground between road and water.

The best-months entry is December through February. Hot enough at the outlet to need testing. Look for where it has cooled. Camp at Rattlesnake, about a mile off. Nothing recorded for a fee. The chemistry dates to 1979 and the temperature may have drifted since.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1979-08-08 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 8.8 |
| Calcium | 3.1 mg/L |
| Sodium | 97 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 24 mg/L |
| Chloride | 9.6 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Emmett](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/emmett), 38 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Silver Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/silver-creek-hot-spring): 102°F source, pH 8.9, TDS 197 mg/L, Roadside, near Cascade, Valley County, developed pools, pools 100°F, $15 day pass, year-round
- [Boiling Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/boiling-springs-1): 185°F source, pH 8.9, TDS 260 mg/L, Roadside, near Cascade, Valley County, primitive pools, free, year-round
- [Warm Springs Creek Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/warm-springs-creek-hot-springs): 167°F source, pH 8.4, TDS 307 mg/L, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County
- [Dash Creek Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/dash-creek-hot-springs): 138°F source, Short Walk, near Cascade, Valley County
- [Ground Hog Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/ground-hog-hot-springs): 100°F source, Hike, near Cascade, Valley County, primitive pools, free, may-oct
- [Goat Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/goat-hot-springs): Hot, pH 9.3, Hike, near Cascade, Valley County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Rocky Canyon Hot Springs?**
Rocky Canyon Hot Springs has a water temperature of 120°F (49°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Rocky Canyon Hot Springs located?**
Rocky Canyon Hot Springs is located in Valley County, Idaho at 3,400 feet elevation, near Cascade. Coordinates: 44.2530°N, 115.8910°W.

**How do I get to Rocky Canyon Hot Springs?**
Rocky Canyon Hot Springs has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Middle Fork Road (205 ft from the road).

**Is Rocky Canyon Hot Springs free to visit?**
Rocky Canyon Hot Springs has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.

**Can I camp near Rocky Canyon Hot Springs?**
Yes, Rattlesnake is located nearby (1.1 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Rocky Canyon Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 8.8 (alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Rocky Canyon Hot Springs?**
With care. At 120°F Rocky Canyon Hot Springs is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals